Spontaneous restoration of epiphytic lichen biota in managed forests planted on habitats typical for temperate deciduous forest

The study examines the changes of epiphytic lichen diversity in differently aged stands developing after clear cutting and pine planting on fertile habitats typical for deciduous forests. The study was conducted within one large complex consisting of pine, mixed pine-hornbeam and typical old oak-linden-hornbeam forests in northern Poland. Epiphytic lichens were recorded in 50 study plots randomly selected within 5 forest stand classes of a different structure and age, ranging from 80 to over 220 years. Altogether 143 lichen species were recorded, of which only 41 were entirely nonspecific, and were occurring in all the studied forest stand classes. Significant differences in lichen species richness between stand classes were found and the number of species increases with the forest age. Lichen species composition also differs and its changes progress towards restoration of lichen biota typical for deciduous forest consistent with the habitat. The age of the forest has the most significant effect on the biodiversity of lichen biota. Microhabitat space provided by oaks is highly desirable since it greatly enriches lichen biota in forests. Phorophyte specificity of particular lichens were assessed. Hornbeam and oak have the greatest number of species mostly confined to them and constitute a main refuge for lichens with a high conservation value. The changes of lichen biota are basically parallel with the changes of the forest stand structure. The selection of some parts within managed pine forests that should not be assigned for cutting in the future can be a simple procedure which helps to restore and preserve forest biodiversity.     

The lichen flora on Picea abies in a suboceanic spruce forest area in Central Norway with emphasis on the relationship to site and stand parameters

The lichen flora on 400 Picea abies trees (branches, trunks and trunk bases) in 100 patches of suboceanic spruce forest in Central Norway has been investigated. Relationships between occurrence of the species and a number of habitat and tree variables were analysed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). A total of 122 lichen species were recorded. Total species number was found to be about the same on branches and trunk bases (considerably lower on trunks), but with higher β-diversity on trunk bases. Most species could be classified as branch specialists, generalists, trunk or trunk base specialists. Among the measured habitat variables, stand age, altitude and vegetation type were found to be the most important for explaining the patterns of species distributions. Alectoria sarmentosa, Mycoblastus sanguinarius and several dry bark species on trunks, including Caliciales species, were more or less confined to old forests, while Usnea spp. were more abundant in young form. Trentepohlia-containing trunk base species like Arthonia vinosa, Dimerella pineti, Lecanactis abietina and Sclerophora coniophaea showed preference for vegetation types indicating nutrient-rich substrates. The number of branch species was highest on lower altitudes while the opposite was true for trunk species. Larger trees with rough bark in older stands had a more species-rich lichen flora, probably because of higher substratum area and availability of more diverse microsites.     

Root associations in Austrocedrus forests and seasonal dynamics of arbuscular mycorrhizas

 Despite the recognized importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in forest ecosystems, their is little information about their occurrence in natural forest ecosystems of Patagonia. This study investigated root associations in two Austrocedrus forests and the seasonal dynamics of AM of Austrocedrus chilensis. Most of the vascular flora in both forests had arbuscular mycorrhizae (80.5 and 70.5% of species, respectively). The dynamics of mycorrhiza formation and spore number did not differ between these forests but varied with the season. Root colonization was lowest in September at the end of the quarter with the most rain, and spore numbers were highest in September and in December at the beginning of the dry season. Accepted: 14 February 1998     

新疆阿勒泰山两河源自然保护区地面生地衣的物种多样性

阿勒泰山地是我国著名水系额尔齐斯河和乌伦古河的发源地,该山地地衣植物的研究在中国乃至中亚都占有非常重要的科学地位。新疆阿勒泰山两河源自然保护区位于阿勒泰山东段,气候在新疆最为潮湿,其地衣植物种类十分丰富。作者在该保护区选择6个植被带类型,即山地荒漠带、山地草原带、针阔混交林带、针叶林带、亚高山草甸带、高山草甸带,研究了其地面生地衣植物的物种多样性特征。结果表明:阿勒泰山两河源自然保护区地衣植物区系成分丰富而且复杂,共有地面生地衣植物5科6属46种,以石蕊科种类最为丰富,约32种。该地区不同植被带类型下地面生地衣植物物种的S?renson相似性系数在0.200–0.739之间,以针阔混交林和针叶林带的相似性为最高(0.739),针阔混交林和高山草甸带地衣植物物种相似性最低(0.200)。各植被带地衣优势种中白边岛衣(Cetrarialaeuigata)、林鹿蕊(Cladoniaarbuscula)、佐木氏珊瑚枝(Stereocaulonsasakii)、鳞地卷(Peltigeralepido-phora)、喇叭粉石蕊(Cladoniachlorophaea)、东方鹿蕊(Cladinagrisea)等的重要值在0.5以上,其余优势种的重要值均在0.5以下;山地森林带地衣植物物种多样性最为丰富,在整个阿勒泰山两河源自然保护区地面生地衣植物群落中占据优势地位,为该地区地衣植物多样性的分布中心,是地衣植物多样性保护的关键地区。     

Species richness and composition of Curculionidae (Coleoptera) in a conifer plantation, secondary forest, and old-growth forest in the central mountainous region of Japan

Weevil (Curculionidae, Coleoptera) species richness and composition were investigated and compared among larch [Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carriére] plantations, secondary forests, and old-growth forests in the central mountainous region of Japan. In addition, to assess the effects of forest-management practices, namely thinning and long-rotation logging schedules (long rotation), the weevil assemblages of recently thinned middle-aged and long-rotated larch plantations were compared with those of middle-aged larch plantations. Malaise traps were set in 44 stands of these forest types, and weevils were separated and identified. Several environmental factors other than forest type were also examined. Weevil species richness and diversity indices [Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H) and Simpsons index of diversity (D)] were higher in the secondary forest than in the larch plantation. Because of its wide distribution and higher weevil species richness, the secondary forest contributed to maintaining weevil diversity in this region. Old-growth forest had higher diversity indices (H and D) than did the larch plantation. The secondary forest had the highest number of species in total. Though the number of individuals was the highest in larch plantation, species richness, H and D of the plantation were generally low. Weevil community structure and species composition differed among the three forest types, but the difference in weevil composition between the larch plantation and the other two forest types was the largest. Forest type is probably the most important factor for determining the differences in weevil assemblage, and further, both dominant tree type (coniferous trees versus broad-leaved trees) and the number of mature tree species seem to be important factors for weevil species composition. Among forest management practices, long rotation caused diversity indices (H and D) to increase while thinning appeared to cause only minor changes in the weevil assemblages. Because species richness and species composition of Curculionidae well reflected the differences in forest types and some other environmental factors investigated, this family seems suitable for diversity research in forests. Further research on biodiversity with the use of this family should, therefore, be expected.     

桥山栎林群落结构特征与物种多样性相关关系分析

为了解森林群落结构特征与物种多样性之间的相关关系,以黄土高原桥山林区典型麻栎纯林、麻栎阔叶混交林和麻栎油松混交林为研究对象,调查分析了群落结构特征,计算物种重要值及物种多样性,并进行了冗余分析,结果表明:(1)麻栎油松混交林主要以乔木层胸径、树高、枝下高等最高;麻栎阔叶混交林以灌木层盖度、地径、冠幅、高度等最高;麻栎纯林以草本地径、草本盖度及草本冠幅最高。(2) 3种类型林分乔木层重要值最高的均为麻栎(Quercus acutissima),灌木层为狼牙刺(Sophora viciifolia)、南蛇藤(Celastrus orbiculatus)、胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor),草本层为苔草(Carex tristachya)。(3)麻栎油松混交林乔、灌层物种多样性较高,麻栎阔叶混交林以草本层物种多样性最高。(4)不同类型麻栎林群落结构特征与物种多样性关系有差异。松栎混交林中,对物种多样性影响最大的为乔木胸径、新稍长及灌木高度;麻栎阔叶混交林对物种多样性影响最大的为灌木层高度及冠幅;麻栎纯林中,对物种多样性影响最大的为乔木胸径。(5)麻栎油松混交林、麻栎阔叶混交林的胸径、树高、物种多样较麻栎纯林高,具有较高木材生产能力和生态防护功能,是未来森林经营培育的方向。     

黔中地区马尾松林下杜鹃根部内生真菌群落组成及其生态功能

探索黔中马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林下杜鹃(Rhododendron simsii)根内生真菌物种多样性和生态功能。采集黔中乌当(WD)、孟关(MG)、龙里(LL) 3个地区马尾松林下杜鹃的发根,提取真菌DNA进行高通量测序。分析真菌Alpha多样性,借助FUNGuild注释平台解析真菌的生态功能类别,探索真菌群落中的核心微生物组,并结合网络图展示菌群之间的关联性。结果,3个地区的杜鹃根部内生真菌多样性非常丰富,WD地区杜鹃内生真菌多样性和丰富度最高。试验共获得有效序列425799条,817个可操作分类单元(OTU),分属于6门19纲52目103科154属,主要隶属于子囊菌门(81.2%)、接合菌门(5.8%)和担子菌门(4.7%);优势纲、目、科分别为:散囊菌纲(43.0%)、散囊菌目(39.2%)、发菌科(39.2%);在属的水平上,青霉属(38.60%)占比最高,其次是木霉属(7.20%)、拟盘多毛孢属(6.10%)。根部的真菌拥有多种生态功能群,如未定义腐生菌(194 OTU)、植物病原菌(20 OTU)、土壤腐生菌(18 OTU)、外生菌(14 OTU)、地衣共生真菌(10 OTU)、杜鹃类菌根真菌(5 OTU)、木腐生菌(5 OTU)、丛枝菌根(4 OTU)、内生菌(2 OTU)、动物病原菌(8 OTU),以及多种混合营养型类群21类,102个Undefined种类在FUNGuild数据库中没有参考信息。根部真菌可以形成生态位共享模式,而且不同功能群之间存在耦合性,核心基因组与关键物种以真菌组形成的生态功能团表现。     

Species Composition, Diversity and Local uses of Tropical Dry Deciduous and Gallery Forests in Nicaragua

The floristic composition and diversity of tropical dry deciduous and gallery forests were studied in Chacocente Wildlife Refuge, located on the Pacific coast in Nicaragua during 1994 and 2000. Density, dominance and frequency as well as species and family important values were computed to characterize the floristic composition. A variety of diversity measures were also calculated to examine heterogeneity in each forest community. A total of 29 families, 49 genera and 59 species were represented in 2 ha dry deciduous forest. In the gallery forest, the number of families, genera and species recorded in 2000 inventory was 33, 48 and 58, respectively and slightly higher than the 1994 inventory. The number of stems ⩽ 10 cm dbh varied from 451 to 489 per hectare in the deciduous forest, and from 283 to 298 per hectare in the gallery forest. The basal area was much larger for species in the gallery than dry deciduous forest. Fabaceae, sub family Papilionoideae, was the most specious family in the deciduous forest while Meliaceae was the dominant family in the gallery forest. Similarity in species composition and abundance between deciduous and gallery forests was low. In terms of species diversity, the gallery forest was found more diverse than the deciduous forest using Fisher's diversity index. Both forest communities were characterized by a typical inverse J shape. Therefore, emphasis should be given to the protection of rare species, i.e. as the forests are still under continued human pressure, an immediate action should be taken to conserve the remaining flora.     

Effects of forest management on epiphytic lichen diversity in Mediterranean forests

Question: What are the responses of epiphytic lichens to the intensity of management along a large environmental gradient in Mediterranean Quercus forests? Location: Central Spain. Methods: This study was carried out on 4590 trees located in 306 forest stands dominated by Quercus faginea or Quercus ilex ssp. ballota. The effect of forest management and other predictor variables on several species diversity indicators were studied. Variables modelled were total species richness, cyanolichen richness and community composition. A large number of predictor variables were included: forest fragmentation (patch size, stand variability), climate and topographic (altitude, slope, sun radiation, annual rainfall and mean annual temperature) and intensity of management. General linear models and constrained ordination techniques were used to model community traits and species composition, respectively. Results: Total richness and especially cyanolichens richness were significantly and negatively affected by the intensity of management. Lichen composition was influenced by management intensity, climatic and topographic variables and stand variability. Conclusions: In Mediterranean forests, human activities related to forestry, agricultural and livestock use cause impoverishment of lichen communities, including the local disappearance of the most demanding species. The conservation of unmanaged forests with a dense canopy is crucial for lichen diversity.     

EPIPHYTE FLORA AND DIVERSITY ON BASAL TRUNKS OF SIX OLD-GROWTH FOREST TREE SPECIES IN SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE BOREAL FINLAND

Epiphytic lichen and bryophyte species composition, richness and diversity were surveyed on basal trunks of six common old-growth forest tree species,Picea abies,Pinus sylvestris,Betula pendula,Alnus incana,Salix capreaandPopulus tremula, in two old-growth forest areas, one in southern and one in middle boreal Finland. The average species numbers per tree ranged from 18 (Picea) to 27 (Salix) in the southern and from 20 (Populus) to 31 (Salix) in the middle boreal area. A few widespread habitat-generalist species, such as the foliose lichensHypogymnia physodesandPlatismatia glauca, were most abundant on all the tree species, exceptPopulus. Most other epiphyte species showed at least a slight preference for one or two tree species.Populusproved to have the most distinct flora characterized by the abundance of certain, rather specialized crustose lichens and bryophytes. The number of species that occurred on only one tree species was highest onPopulus(9) in the southern and onAlnus(18) in the middle boreal area. Differences in bark acidity and structure were the most likely explanations for the differences between tree species in the epiphytic flora and diversity.SalixandPopuluswere the most important of the tree species studied for the conservation of epiphyte diversity in the boreal forests of Finland.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Monotropastrum humile</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">humile</Emphasis> is associated with diverse ectomycorrhizal Russulaceae fungi in Japanese forests

Monotropastrum humile is nearly lacking in chlorophyll and obtains its nutrients, including carbon sources, from associated mycorrhizal fungi. We analyzed the mycorrhizal fungal affinity and species diversity of M. humile var. humile mycorrhizae to clarify how the plant population survives in Japanese forest ecosystems. We classified 78 samples of adult M. humile var. humile individuals from Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyusyu Islands into 37 root mycorrhizal morphotypes. Of these, we identified 24 types as Russula or Lactarius fungal taxa in the Russulaceae, Basidiomycetes, but we could not identify the remaining 13 types as to their genus in the Basidiomycetes. The number of fungal species on M. humile var. humile was the highest in the plant subfamily. The diversity of fungal species revealed its increased trends in natural forests at the stand level, fagaceous vegetation, and cool-temperate climate. The most frequently observed fungus colonized mainly samples collected from sub-alpine forests; the second most frequently observed fungus colonized samples collected from sub-alpine to warm-temperate forests. These results suggest that Japanese M. humile populations are associated with specific but diverse fungi that are common ectomycorrhizal symbionts of various forest canopy trees, indicating a tripartite mycorrhizal relationship in the forest ecosystem.     

The potential contribution of conifer plantations to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Summary

The detrimental effects of conifer plantations on open ground habitats have been well catalogued and discussed, but the potential contribution of planted forests to the conservation of woodland biodiversity has not been quantified to the same extent. This quantification is needed urgently to help forest managers fulfil commitments to biodiversity enhancement as outlined in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the UK Forestry Standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (UKWAS). Results are presented from a five-year programme of research aimed at obtaining baseline information on biodiversity in planted forests and evaluating the contribution of planted forests to the conservation of native flora and fauna. Fifty-two plots were surveyed in total, covering a range of different tree crops (Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr., Norway spruce Picea abies L. and Corsican pine Pinus nigra var maritima (Aitón) Melville) and stand ages (pre-thicket, mid-rotation, mature and over-mature) in three contrasting bioclimatic zones (upland, foothills and lowlands) throughout Britain. Additional plots were established in semi-natural woodland to allow comparisons between the biodiversity of plantations and native stands. Over 2000 species were recorded in total, including 45 Red Data Book species. Planted stands had similar or richer fungal and invertebrate communities to those of the native stands but poorer lichen and vascular plant communities. The latter were strongly affected by shading, dense, mid-rotation Sitka spruce stands having the lowest species counts. In contrast, these stands had a high diversity of mycorrhizal fungi, including a number of rare and threatened species normally associated with native pine wood. Bryophyte species-richness was related more to climate than woodland type, with the wetter upland spruce and native oak stands having the most diverse communities. Compared to the younger planted stands, over-mature planted stands had a higher proportion of species characteristic of semi-natural woodland stands. This related to greater structural diversity and higher deadwood volumes in the over-mature stands. It is concluded that conifer plantations make a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation in the UK and hence to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. No single stand or crop type provides ‘optimal’ conditions for biodiversity, but the habitat value of plantations could be enhanced by increasing the area managed under alternative systems to clear-felling, such as ‘continuous cover’ and/or non-intervention natural reserves.     

云南哀牢山原生林及次生林群落附生地衣物种多样性与分布

附生地衣是森林附生植物的重要类群之一, 在维护森林生态系统的物种多样性以及水分和养分循环等方面发挥着重要作用。作者于2005年12月至2006年5月利用树干取样法调查了云南哀牢山徐家坝地区原生山地常绿阔叶林及其次生群落栎类萌生林、滇山杨(Populus bonatii)林和花椒(Zanthoxylum bungeanum)人工林中525株不同种类和径级树木距地面 0–2.0 m处附生地衣的组成和分布, 并收集了各个群落地面上凋落的地衣, 分析了林冠层附生地衣的物种组成。研究结果表明, 该区森林中附生地衣物种比较丰富。共收集到附生地衣61种, 分属17科29属, 其中原生林、栎类萌生林、滇山杨林和花椒人工林分别有51、53、46和23种。在树干距地面 0–2.0 m位置, 各群落中的附生地衣组成明显不同;但在林冠层中, 各群落内的附生地衣基本相似。原生林中附生地衣种类较多, 但分布不均匀。树干附生地衣的Shannon-Wiener和Simpson多样性指数以栎类萌生林最高, 分别为2.71和0.89;花椒林和滇山杨林次之, 分别为2.43–2.45和0.88–0.89;原生林最低, 为1.25和0.67。树干方位、宿主种类和宿主径级等都对附生地衣的物种组成和多样性有着重要影响, 附生地衣更多地出现于树干南向方位, 云南越桔(Vaccinium duclouxii)的附生地衣最为丰富, 胸径5.0–25.0 cm的树木上附生地衣较多。哀牢山山地森林群落中丰富的附生地衣种类及物种多样性在维系本区山地森林生态系统生物多样性格局方面具有重要的作用。     

Diversity of dung-beetle community in declining Japanese subalpine forest caused by an increasing sika deer population

The Ohdaigahara subalpine plateau in Japan has recently suffered a reduction in primary forest land caused by an increasing population of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Deer have debarked many trees, causing dieback, gradually changing the primary forest first to light forest with a floor that is densely covered with sasa grass (Sasa nipponica) and then to S. nipponica grassland. To examine the effects of vegetative transformation on the dung-beetle community, we compared the diversity and abundance of dung-beetle assemblages in the primary forest, transition forest, and S. nipponica grassland using dung-baited pitfall traps. The species richness and species diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) were significantly highest in the primary forest and lowest in the S. nipponica grassland. The evenness (Smith-Wilson index) was highest in the primary forest and nearly equal in the transition forest and S. nipponica grassland. The abundance was apparently greater in the transition forest than in the primary forest and S. nipponica grassland. These results suggest that loss of primary forest resulting from an increasing deer population decreases the diversity of the dung-beetle community while increasing the abundance of dung beetles in the transition forest. Sika deer use transition forests and grasslands more frequently than primary forests as habitat, but an increase in dung supply there does not necessarily increase the diversity or abundance of dung-beetle assemblages.     

Bole epiphytic lichens as potential indicators of environmental change in subtropical forest ecosystems in southwest China

Lichen epiphytes are applied as excellent environmental indicators worldwide. However, very little is known about epiphytic lichen communities and their response to forest dynamics in subtropical China. This paper proposes the applications of the cover, diversity, and functional traits of epiphytic lichens to assess environmental changes associated with succession in subtropical forests of southwest China. Bole lichens were sampled from 120 plots of eight representative forest types in the Ailao Mountains. Total cover, species richness, diversity and community structure of bole lichens differed significantly among forest types, and the highest cover and diversity occurred in the Populus bonatii secondary forest (PBSF). Sixty-one indicator species were associated with particular forest types and more than 50% occurred in the PBSF. Both cover and diversity of most lichen functional groups varied regularly during forest succession. Lichen pioneer species were not displaced by competitively superior species as succession proceeds and cyanolichens were more prevalent in secondary forests. The results also highlight the importance of habitat variables such as canopy openness, host diversity, forest age, tree size, the size of the largest tree, tree density, and basal area on the lichen community. Consequently, our findings support the notion that epiphytic lichens, in terms of cover, diversity, species composition and functional traits can be used as effective indicators for large-scale and long-term forest monitoring. More importantly, the narrowly lobed foliose group was the best candidate indicator of environmental conditions in this region. The combined application of lichen indicator species and functional groups seemed to be a more reliable and more powerful method for monitoring forest dynamics in subtropical montane ecosystems.     

Forest edge-interior differentiation in the epiphytic lichen diversity of the forest steppe in the Khangai Mountains,Mongolia

Aims The effects of traditional land use by mobile livestock keepers on biodiversity in forest steppe ecotones are insufficiently studied. Epiphytes are an important part of forest plant diversity. Here we analyze differences in the diversity and composition of the epiphytic lichen vegetation between the edge and the interior of Siberian larch forests in the Khangai Mountains, western Mongolia, which are highly subdivided into patches. We asked whether the epiphytic lichen vegetation at the forest edge differs significantly from that in the interior, whether the edge is inhabited by more nitrophilous species than the interior and whether the density of nomad camps around the forest affects epiphytic lichen diversity.Methods Cover percentages of epiphytic lichen species were recorded from 20 trees per plot on 6 plots in the interior and 6 plots at the edge of Larix sibirica forests. The position of nomad summer camps was surveyed using Global Positioning System. Data were analyzed with pairwise significance tests, analysis of similarities, nonmetric multidimensional scaling and canonical correspondence analysis.Important findings The composition of the epiphytic lichen vegetation clearly differed between the two habitats, with more species being more frequent at the edge than in the interior. However, there was no difference in species richness (α-diversity). The epiphyte vegetation at the edge was more uniform and characterized by lower variation of tree-level α-diversity and lower β-diversity than in the interior. At the edge, only nitrophytic lichens were dominant, whereas in the interior, nitrophytes and acidophytes were among the dominant species. This pattern is probably attributable to the spatial heterogeneity of the intensity of forest grazing and was shown to be influenced by the density of nomad summer camps in the vicinity of the forests. Tree-level α-diversity increased with stem diameter, but high-diameter trees were rare. The results suggest that the present level of forest patchiness and the effect of forest grazing increases the diversity of epiphytic lichens on the landscape level, while logging of high-diameter trees reduces lichen diversity.     

Diversity of wood-inhabiting Agaricomycotina on wood of different size classes in riparian forests of Uruguay

Many Agaricomycotina species are saprobes, playing a fundamental role in nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems by decomposing wood. Little is known about factors affecting diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in the neotropical, warm temperate native forests of Uruguay. Most of these native forests are riparian harboring about 300 tree species. In this study, we assessed the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi on wood of different size classes in riparian forests of Uruguay. We recovered 186 species of Agaricomycotina, including 113 corticioid and 58 polyporoid taxa. Eleven taxa accounted for 38% of the all the samples. The highest number of species was found on fine woody debris (FWD, 2–10 cm diam) than coarse woody debris (CWD, >10 cm diam) and very fine woody debris (VFWD, <2 cm diam). Species-accumulation curves did not reach an asymptote for any of the groups or wood diameter classes studied. Polyporoids were more frequently recorded on CWD (61% of collections) and corticioids on VFWD (77%). Species richness estimated by non-parametric estimators indicates an Agaricomycotina species richness between 450 and 700 taxa. Our results show that Uruguayan riparian forests, despite its limited area and fragmentation, support a wood-inhabiting Agaricomycotina diversity comparable to less fragmented forests with more plant diversity.     

Large beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis>) trees as ‘lifeboats’ for lichen diversity in central European forests

The forest management practices used in central Europe in the last several centuries have led to loss of lichen diversity that may be largely attributed to a loss of substrate variability and quantity. In an attempt to obtain information enabling us to mitigate this process, we surveyed affinity of lichen species to the substrates they currently occupy in six forest areas in the Czech Republic, located between 200 and 1000 m a.s.l. Tree bases and stems represented the most important substrate for lichen species, and especially so for threatened (i.e. red-listed) species. Lichen species richness per individual tree generally increased with stem diameter, especially for beech. Stems and tree bases of large-diameter beeches provide habitats that have enabled the survival of a crucial component of the red-listed lichen species in central Europe, far outweighing other tree species. The deciduous tree species that are commonly considered as favourable for lichen diversity (e.g. maples, ash, elms) were inhabited by only a few other lichen species additional to those associated with beech. This may be due to the low frequency of these tree species in most managed forests, and also some forest reserves, at the present time. Similarly, low incidence of dead wood in managed forests has likely limited its contribution to the lichen diversity, despite the high potential for lichen diversity associated with such substrates. It is thus apparent that bark of large-diameter live beech trees comprises a keystone habitat element in the provision of lichen diversity in central European forests.     

Richness of Lichen Species,Especially of Threatened Ones,Is Promoted by Management Methods Furthering Stand Continuity

Lichens are a key component of forest biodiversity. However, a comprehensive study analyzing lichen species richness in relation to several management types, extending over different regions and forest stages and including information on site conditions is missing for temperate European forests. In three German regions (Schwäbische Alb, Hainich-Dün, Schorfheide-Chorin), the so-called Biodiversity Exploratories, we studied lichen species richness in 631 forest plots of 400 m² comprising different management types (unmanaged, selection cutting, deciduous and coniferous age-class forests resulting from clear cutting or shelterwood logging), various stand ages, and site conditions, typical for large parts of temperate Europe. We analyzed how lichen species richness responds to management and habitat variables (standing biomass, cover of deadwood, cover of rocks). We found strong regional differences with highest lichen species richness in the Schwäbische Alb, probably driven by regional differences in former air pollution, and in precipitation and habitat variables. Overall, unmanaged forests harbored 22% more threatened lichen species than managed age-class forests. In general, total, corticolous, and threatened lichen species richness did not differ among management types of deciduous forests. However, in the Schwäbische-Alb region, deciduous forests had 61% more lichen species than coniferous forests and they had 279% more threatened and 76% more corticolous lichen species. Old deciduous age classes were richer in corticolous lichen species than young ones, while old coniferous age-classes were poorer than young ones. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of stand continuity for conservation. To increase total and threatened lichen species richness we suggest (1) conserving unmanaged forests, (2) promoting silvicultural methods assuring stand continuity, (3) conserving old trees in managed forests, (4) promoting stands of native deciduous tree species instead of coniferous plantations, and (5) increasing the amount of deadwood in forests.     

四川老君山自然保护区不同生境鸟类多样性研究

2006年4~5月采用"点样带法"(point transects)对四川老君山自然保护区的鸟类物种组成和种群数量进行了调查,共记录到85种鸟类,分属7目22科。其中,国家级保护鸟类5种,我国特有种13种,优势种4种。把调查区域划分为3种生境:原始林、次生林和人工林,并对各生境鸟类群落的鸟类数量级、鸟类群落的物种多样性、鸟类群落间的相似性进行了比较分析,其结果表明:1)国家级保护鸟类在原始林中最多,次生林中最少;我国特有种则是次生林中最多,人工林中最少。2)鸟类群落Shannon-Wiener物种多样性指数原始林最高,人工林最低。3)原始林和次生林之间的B ray-Curtis相似性指数最高,原始林和人工林之间相似性指数最低。